TEAM NEWS | Sale Sharks Women v Saracens Women

Head Coach Alex Austerberry says Saracens Women are heading in to this weekend’s rearranged match against Sale Sharks with a spring in their step after starting 2022 with back-to-back victories. 

The Women in Black have beaten both DMP Durham Sharks and Loughborough Lightning in the last fortnight and travel to the Corpacq Stadium on Saturday afternoon looking to continue their good form.

Hannah Botterman, May Campbell and Kelsey Clifford start in the front-row with Sonia Green and Tamara Taylor keeping up their partnership in the second-row. 

Cece Gordon-Hill gets another opportunity in the back-row, and she lines up with summer signing Katie Barnes and co-captain Marlie Packer. 

Carly Waters is again at scrum-half after navigating her side through the Loughborough challenge impressively, and is alongside Zoe Harrison at fly-half.

Holly Aitchison, who scored last weekend is at inside centre, with Cara Wardle getting the nod at outside centre. 

Co-captain Lotte Clapp moves to the left wing, with Ella Wyrwas showing her versatility by moving to the right wing and in an exciting development Alev Kelter will make her full debut at full-back. 

On the bench Alex Ellis will be looking to continue her good form when called upon, and the experienced Hannah Casey also takes her place amongst the replacements. 

Austerberry wants his team to build on their recent wins which have propelled them to the top of the Allianz Premier 15s table. 

“We bounced back against DMP Durham Sharks and then backed it up last weekend at Loughborough. That was a tough test for us and a few dropped balls when we could have scored made it a bit harder for us. 

Ten out of ten points post-Christmas is a good return, especially as Loughborough are getting back to their best form. They showed that by beating Bristol Bears. 

Now we are looking for some more solid performances against Sale Sharks and Worcester Warriors.”

Saracens Women team to play Sale Sharks Women: 

1 Hannah Botterman

2 May Campbell

3 Kelsey Clifford 

4 Sonia Green

5 Tamara Taylor

6 Cece Gordon-Hill

7 Katie Barnes

8 Marlie Packer (cc)

9 Carly Waters

10 Zoe Harrison

11 Lotte Clapp (cc)

12 Holly Aitchison

13 Cara Wardle

14 Ella Wyrwas

15 Alev Kelter

Replacements: 

16 Jodie Turl 

17 Jeanine Stephenson 

18 Alex Ellis

19 Sophie Tansley 

20 Sophie Shams

21 Ellie Lennon 

22 Hannah Casey

23 Tilly Vaughan-Fowler